Convenience Stores

Whole Foods Market is embarking on a project to teach its environmentally-minded customers that not all recycling is created equal.

The retailer announced a new partnership with Recycling Across America that aims to help reduce global waste and close the loop with the reuse of recycled materials in manufacturing.

Asheville, N.C. – A significant increase in gain from the disposal of assets helped boost net income 37% at Ingles Markets Inc. in the second quarter of fiscal 2015 to $14.3 million, from $10.5 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Lower gasoline prices helped reduce net sales 3% to $915.3 million, from $947.76 million.

Excluding gasoline, same-store sales rose 1.2%.

Houston – Fuddruckers is going from “Howdy” to “Ayuh.” The casual-dining chain is opening its first location in Maine on May 11 through a partnership with franchisee B&B Burgers Inc. The 3,000-sq.-ft. restaurant in Ellsworth, Maine anchors a new Tradewinds convenience store complex.

Former Walgreens CEO Greg Wasson is one of three top retail industry executives confirmed as inductees into the Grocery Manufacturers Association’s Hall of Achievement when the trade group holds a gala event in conjunction with its annual meeting this fall.

GMA will also honor former ConAgra Foods CEO Gary Rodkin and Chairman of the Board of Flowers Foods George Deese with the GMA Hall of Achievement Award in August.

Tarrytown, N.Y. -- DLC Management Corporation, a national owner and operator of open-air shopping centers, announced its new partnership with LOC Card, a universal card that supports merchants’ existing loyalty programs.

With LOC Card, consumers can now use one card across all participating merchants at their preferred DLC shopping center to access and engage with each merchant’s loyalty program. The LOC Card replaces that key ring full of loyalty card key tags and streamlines the process, saving time at the register.

Cincinnati -- Grocery shoppers have a resounding message for grocery retailers who have been enticing them with fuel rewards for over a decade: Fuel rewards alone aren’t winning their loyalty. Grocery discounts are the new value driver.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Domino's Pizza has opened in its third new market so far in 2015, as the first Domino's store in the Republic of Georgia opened the capital city of Tbilisi. Domino's Pizza in Georgia is a joint venture between Turkven, Domino's master franchisee in Turkey, and Geo Pizza LLC, led by CEO Tea Shengelia.

Commerce, Calif. -- Smart & Final Stores Inc. reported earnings of $4.9 million in its first quarter, compared with a profit of $2.5 million last year. Revenue for the period ended March 22 rose 11.9% to $822.2 million. Same-store sales climbed 6.1%.

"The year is off to a strong start, with Smart & Final Stores delivering against our business plans and financial objectives," said Dave Hirz, president and CEO.

Marion, Ill. -- Outdoor gear and apparel retailer Gander Mountain is set to open its new location, in Marion, Illinois, on May 7.

The new 52,000-sq.-ft. store is the company’s eighth in Illinois. The exterior and interior layout reflect Gander Mountain's new store design featuring innovative interior elements, displays and fixtures.

New York -- Discount supermarket company WinCo Foods LLC will open its 100th store on May 7, in Lewisville, Texas. The 83,000-sq.-ft. location is the fifth WinCo store to open in the Lone Star State.

The new store features WinCo's signature "Wall of Values" at the entry, which displays a wide variety of high-volume, value-priced products.

WinCo currently operates some 100 stores in the states of Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah and Texas.